The Rally of Turkey (3rd to 5th of June) is the fourth of seven rounds of the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship. This means the third race for Natalie Barratt with the OMV World Rally Team after New Zealand and Cyprus – she had skipped Sweden. And this time the OMV driver sees a realistic chance of winning points – for Turkey will be `hot` going. Just what the cool Brit is looking for.
Cyprus already was `hot` but the Rally of Turkey will be even hotter. A fact that is to Natalie Barratt`s advantage. The OMV driver not only counts on the fact that women are better suited to deal with heat than men but also on her top fitness: “This would already have been an advantage in Cyprus if it hadn`t been for the flu. But I`m back in top form and full of beans." Therefore the Brit in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII should be able to score her first points for the OMV World Rally Team, if she is spared technical defects.
Tactical prowess is the key
Even though the Rally of Turkey is new territory for Natalie Barratt, similarities to Cyprus are evident. The heat will be even more oppressive and the gravel surface doesn`t allow any mistakes. Thus, tactical prowess will be the key to success. "We definitely won`t take too much risk. Here one has to be patient – and hope that the ‘defect-devil` will find other victims," the OMV driver explains, alluding to her bad luck in Cyprus (punctures, faulty transverse control arm, troubles with the differential, etc.). If everything goes according to plan a place among the top eight should be a realistic goal, for, Barratt adds: “With all the problems in Cyprus my thoughts are that that was my season`s bad luck."
349 special stage kilometres on 17 special stages
The Rally of Turkey will commence on Thursday (2nd of June) with a ceremonial start at 19.00 on Cumhuriyet square in Antalaya. 17 special stages with a length of 348,643 kilometres are scheduled from Friday to Sunday (3rd – 5th of June). The overall length measures 1.228 kilometres. The finishing line will be crossed on Sunday (5th of June) at 12.55 in Kemer.


Tags: omv, turkey,